Cut-off for down-spouts.



No.- 664,548; i Patented nee. 25,1900,V

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALLEN HIGGINS, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS:

CUT-oFF FOR DOWN-SPOUTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 664,548, dated December 25, 1906.

Application iled June 5, 1900. Serial No. 19,165. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALLEN 'HIG- GINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Out-Oft for Down-Spouts, of which lthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to down-spouts for rain-water, and has for its object to provide an improved cut-oii therefor, so that the rainwater may be directed to a cistern or storagetank or to a waste-pipe, as may be desired. It is furthermore designed to provide for the convenient adjustment of the device, so as to readily control the direction of the passage of the rain-water and to insure the closure of the passage or conveyer-pipe which is not in use.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consist-s in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims,it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In lthe drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective `view of a cut-off for down-spouts constructed l supply of water.

The object of the present invention is to direct the water from the down-spout to either of the two pipes 2 or 3, one of which conveys the water to a cistern or storage-tank, and the other is a waste-pipe to carry away dirty water or to be used in the event of the cistern or tank being filled, and thereby to prevent overflow of the cistern.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a coupling-pipe 4, which has its iippr end swiveled upon the lower end of the downspout, so that it may be rotated to bring its lower end into connection with either of the discharge-pipes 2 and 3. This coupling comi prises a double elbow and is formed by the opposite longitudinally-disposed` end sections 5 and 6, which are connected by an intermediate laterally-inclined section 7, the end sections being laterally offset from each other. The upper end section 5 telescopically receives the lower end of the down-spout, so that the coupling may be elevated thereon for the purpose of raising the lower extremity ofthe tapered lower end section 6 out of either discharge-pipe, so that said coupling may be turned or rotated upon the down-spout to bring the lower end section 6 into connection with the other discharge-pipe. By reason of the tapered shape of the lower end section the latter may be forced downwardly into either of the discharge-pipes, so as to form a tight and rigid connection therewith, and at the same time permitting of the coupling being conveniently raised out of engagement therewith when it is desired to change the direction of the rain-water.

The down-spout and the discharge-pipes are connected by means of a quadrilateral frame 8, preferably formed of sheet metal, having its longitudinal edges beaded, as at 9, for the reception of marginal stitfeuing and strengthening wires lO. The base 11 of the frame is substantially parallel with the shorter top or upper end l2, while the opposite longitudinal sides 13 converge inwardly from the bottom to the top, thereby forming a substantially triangular frame. The top 12 is provided with a central opening for the reception of the lower end of the down-spout, which projects a suitable distance within the frame, so as to permit of the slidable connection of the coupling, and the base or lower end is provided with a pair of openings 14 and l5, located equally at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the downspout,about which the coupling rotates, so that the latter may be adjusted to be received within either of the openings with which the respective discharge-pipes register. The walls of these openings are preferably beveled inwardly and downwardly, so as to snugly receive the IOO tapered lower end section of the coupling. The pipes V2 and Srinay be connected to the base of the frame in any preferred manneras, for instance, by means of outwardly-directed marginal anges 16, which are bolted or riveted to the frame.

- When the coupling is connected to one of the discharge-pipes, the upper end of the other is open, and in order that said open end may be conveniently closed there is provided a closure-plate 17, which is provided with opposite longitudinal rebent anges 18 toslidably embrace the opposite longitudinal edges of the base ll, so that the plate'may be slid longitudinally across the upper face of the base andbeneath the lower end of the coupling when the latter is elevated, so as to close either opening in the base, the opposite sides of.v the frame forming stops to limit the movement of the slidable closure and stop the latter in proper positions to close the openings.

From the foregoing description. it will be seen that besides connecting the down-spout withA the discharge-pipes the frame also forms ahousing to protect the adjustable coupling and prevent accidental displacement thereof, While 4at the saine time permitting of the convenient adjustinent of said coupling. Moreover,shouldtbe coupling-pipe become clogged by dir-t or any foreign matter deposited therein by the rain-water from the eaves-of` the building saidcoupling may be elevated out of-engagement with either ofthe pipes 2 andS andithen swing clear of the bottom of the frame, whereby the interior of the coupling is conveniently accessible from the lower end thereot'- to remove whatever foreign matter may; have collected therein;

Whatvisclaimed is- 1. A; cut-off for down-spouts, comprisingaV frame, having an opening in the upper side thereof, a down-spout-pipe section projecting,

coupling-pipe, which has its upper end telescopically mounted-upon and also'swiveled to the inner end-of the down-spout-pipe section", .the opposite lower end of the pipe being adjustable from one to the other of the` discharge-openings in the lowerV side ofthe frame, and an adjustable closure slidably mounted upon the lower side of the frame, adjustableffrom one to thel other of the discharge-openings, and also entirely independent of thevcoupiing-pipe.y

2. Inra device ofthe class describedthe combinationwith a down-spout, and a'plu rality, of discharge-pipes, which are located longitudiuallyopposite the down-spout, ofanintermediate coupling-pipe,- Which is adjustable to-connect the down-spout with the respective discharge-pipes, and a closure, which is' adjustable from one tothe other of the discharge-pipes, mounted independently of the coupling-pipe,and closing only one dischargepipe at a time, the other discharge-pipe being connected to the coupling-pipe.

3. Ina=device of" the class described, the combination with a down-spout, and a plurality of discharge-pipes, which are disposed longitudinally opposite the down-spout, of an intermediate connecting-frame therefor, an intermediate coupling-pipe, whichv is-telescopically mounted upon the down-spout, and also adjustable to fit the respective dischargepipes, and a closure, which is slidable upon the frame between the-coupling and the-discharge-pipes, and arranged to close the latter.

4. In a device of: the class described, the combination with a down-spout, and a-plurality` of discharge-pipes locatedlongitudinally oppositethe down-spout, of a connectingframe therefor, having correspondingropenings for the down-spout and thefdischargepipes, an intermediate coupling-pipe, which has one end telescopically connectedatoland also swiveled upon the'down-spout, and-its opposite end arrangedifor adjustable connection Withthe respective discharge-pipes, and aslidable closure mounted upon the side of -theframe having the'openings-for the disbase of the frame havinga pair ofopenings correspondingv with the. discharge-pipes,.an intermediate coupling-pipe,comprisi11g-opposite end sections, which4 are laterally offset-, anda transversely-inclined intermediate-.section connecting the inner ends of.` the end sections, theupper end'section telescopicallyyreceivingthe lower end of the down-spoutiand also-*rotatable thereon, the-lower endsection being tapered to fit within the respective discharge-pipe openings, and aslidable-closureplate, having opposite flanges embracing the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe base of the,- frame, said` plate being; slidable longitudinally ofthe base to close either of.v the discharge-pipe openings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy= signature inthe presence'of two witnesses.

GEORGE ALLEN' HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

C. W. HIGGINS, J T. WAssoN,

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